Community Development
Lt. Gen Arjun Ray (Retd) launched a massive Community Development programme to accelerate rural development on a 'bottoms - up' need-based approach. The idea of this programme was that the villagers identify their needs and the army liaises with the district administration and comes up with a joint blue print to meet those needs. These community development programmes are aimed at enhancing human potential and generating local economy. In 2002, the cash economy of Ladakh was only 11.5 percent.
The major achievements of this programme include:
- Provision of 40 X 62.5 generators for rural electrification for 40 remote border villages along the Line of Control.
- Village irrigation and anti-drought schemes. During the drought in 2001, about 3,00,000 apricot trees were saved.
- Encouraging growth of local economy. 44 percent of the Army's daily maintenance and transport requirements are being met by the local co-operatives. By 2004, the target is planned for 75 percent.
- Five poultry co-operatives have been established with the help of Small Farmers Agri-business Consortium and Field Research Laboratory (Leh). 50 percent of the members are girls. Each member of the co-operative earns about Rs. 2000/- per month.
- Enhanced recruitment of Muslims in Ladakh Scouts to address the imbalance that existed earlier.
- Computer Centres with Internet Connection set up at Leh, Kargil and Diskit.
- Resource Centre at Kargil for mentally and physically challenged.
- Orphanage at Kargil for 53 boys.
- Boy's hostel at Drass for 12 boys.
- Cultural fusion and revival of local cultural traditions, including horse polo and archery.
- Rebuilding Matayan village (64 dwellings) in the area of Drass, the second coldest inhabited place in the world.
